Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-04-21

on the table It was, Of course, in all the
meats, in many of the vegetables; but
every man would have taken oath that it
was in the bread coffee, and even in the
salt and sugar as well.
Nearly all took severe colds from sleep
ing in the open air.
Only about ten days were spent at this
place when the men were ordered to the
State capital, Springfield, Ill. ST. Louis
was reached by rail, when q steamboat
was taken for Alton, Ill here after night
the men boarded train of coal-cars, boards
having been put across for seats. The ride
was any thing but pleasant, those sitting
near the outer edge OF the car seemed in
constant danger of falling overheard, and
the smoke, cinders and sparks from the
engine were tormenting in the extreme.
After awhile Springfield was reached !;
meantime little rain had begun to fall,
and the men found shelter as best they
could. The writer, with a companion,
made his bed for the remainder OF the
night on the stone steps-over which was
projection-of friendly church building
near the railway depot.
Next morning breakfast was found az
the hotels. During the forenoon the writer
with several comrades visited the late res
idence of President Lincoln, gathered some
flowers from the yard and sent them home
as q souvenir.
About noon the cars were taken for
Camp Butler, seven miles east of Spring
field Here was found an inclosure of
about forty acres, having around it high
tight-board fence. Near the sides of the
Enclosure were rows OF long, narrow build
ings-bar-acks. At one end were the off,
GERS, commissary and quartermaster de-
partments; at the other end the guard.
house, hospitals, suffers stores, etc in
the center was a large open space, the
drill ground.
At either end, at about its middle, was
a large high gate for teams, and beside it a
smaller ono for persons to pass through; ;
at each of which stood a soldier with
musket, guarding the entrance.
Life within soon grew to be veritable
prison experience. A company was as
signed to each of the buildings, which, as
said before, was long, narrow structure,
and had at one end kitchen and sore
rooms and at the other two or three email
apartments for the officers. Through the
center of the main room ran table made
Of rough boards from which all ate.
At the sides of the long room were box
like structures, open in front, having tiers
of boards laid wide enough for two to sleep
upon. These were hunks.
The barracks were made of rough boards
put on ''up and down." with no ceiling
overhead save the shingle roof. Windows
and doors were few, purposely SO to econ
omize space.
Here began the crude, coarse fare Of sol
der life. Ratlons IN abundance were OF
cunnli0d Init fhai,. ion
lacked the delicate, skilled hand of woman
Two men were daily detailed from the
company to serve in the kitchen two days
These, the first day, served as assistants
to two other men who, but the day pre-
vious, were assistants, and with the ripe ex-
periencc thus gained in one days apprentice
ship, were now full-fedged cooks.
With these constant changes in the
kitchen, the food was at nearly all times
lily prepared, and chance to often an i'm
portant factor in the results, obtained
For illustration, meat that was put in the
oven to bake or rather roast, from tho pres
ence of too much fat. turned out fry,
and beef put in the kettle to boil, from
there being scarcity OF water towards
the last, ended in bake.
Potatoes were almost never well cooked,
even when apparently done a raw core
would be found in the center. Coffee was
sometimes little stronger than water at
others like I've.
But rice, white beans and dried apples,
gave the new cooks most trouble.
In cooking these the novice invariably
filled the camp kettle, large sheet-iron
vessel holding two gallons or more, with
one of these articles and then poured in
water and set it upon tho stove. In a
little while the rice, apples or beans began
swelling and the vessel commenced run
ming over; the novitiate meantime dip
ping out the superfiuous quantity and put
ting it in another vessel, this process goes
on till he finds he has been compelled to
take out more than there is left and still
have lost none-and in the end there is
enough for regiment.
Good cook stoves and utensils Of all kind
were furnished by the Government. The
tableware was all of tin or iron.
Through the day there was company
drill, occupying an hour or two after
breakfast and before supper. The rest Of
the time was spent reading, writing let
ters and playing checkers and pitching
Quoits with horse-shoes,
Occasionally pass was procured from
the commander of the post, and trip made
to Springfield or to the woods or into the
country across the fields. The camp had
grown terrible monotonous and any chance
to get out, where the view was less circum-
scrbed and the pure air in more abundance,
was welcomed.
FCO%TINITFD NEXT WEEK